Gimbal-mounted pet dish

Abstract

A device for holding pet food or water with a gimbal mount for use in a moving environment, comprising a conventional food or water bowl used for pet comprising multiple features to facilitate its use on a boat or similar moving vehicle is herein disclosed. The device is fastened to a smooth wall surface by a plurality of suction cups which ensures that the device does not move around, but also elevates the bowl to a comfortable mounting height to allow the pet to drink or eat more easily and allows for easy cleaning below the bowl. The bowl is connected to the suction cup mount by a gimbal that allows rotation along both the x and y axis, thus enabling the bowl to always stay level no matter how the device is moved. The bowl comprises an inwardly turned rim which prevents splashing and spilling of water during movement.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A gimbal-mounted pet dish, comprising:
 a mounting frame attachable to a vertical support surface with a fastening means; 
 a pet dish comprising curved side walls and a bottom defining a cavity; 
 a “U”-shaped mounting frame rotatably attached to said mounting frame so as to be rotatable relative to said mounting frame by a rotating bearing to maintain said “U”-shaped mounting frame at a substantially horizontal plane about an axis perpendicular to said mounting frame; and, 
 a pair of mounting pins rotatable relative to said “U”-shaped mounting frame; 
 wherein said mounting pins are provided on opposite upper external sides of said pet dish to rotatably mount said pet dish to opposing distal ends of said “U”-shaped mounting frame to maintain said pet dish at a substantially horizontal plane about an axis parallel to said mounting frame; 
 wherein said fastening means is for removably attaching said pet dish to said vertical support surface at a desired height and location; and, 
 wherein said rotating bearing and said pair of mounting pins support said pet dish at a substantially horizontal plane irrespective of a pitch or roll of said mounting frame. 
 
     
     
       2. The gimbal-mounted pet dish of  claim 1 , wherein said “U”-shaped mounting frame further comprises a rigid material having a flexing nature so as to allow said opposing distal ends to splay outward for attaching and removing said pet dish. 
     
     
       3. The gimbal-mounted pet dish of  claim 2 , wherein said “U”-shaped mounting frame further comprises a receiving aperture through each of said opposing distal ends for insertably engaging each of said pair of mounting pins. 
     
     
       4. The gimbal-mounted pet dish of  claim 1 , wherein said pair of mounting pins each comprise an annular flange slightly larger than said receiving aperture for limiting insertion thereof by contact an interior surface of said “U”-shaped mounting frame. 
     
     
       5. The gimbal-mounted pet dish of  claim 1 , wherein said mounting frame further comprises:
 a horizontal member affixed to said fastening means; and, 
 a lower vertical member extending downward from said horizontal member; 
 wherein said lower vertical member comprises a standoff affixed to a lower end of said horizontal member to provide a supported vertical mounting plane parallel to said vertical support surface. 
 
     
     
       6. The gimbal-mounted pet dish of  claim 5 , wherein said standoff further comprises a standoff distance equivalent to a distance between said mounting frame and said vertical support surface. 
     
     
       7. The gimbal-mounted pet dish of  claim 1 , wherein said pet dish further comprises an inwardly facing protrusion along an upper peripheral edge to provide a containment means for contents stored within said interior. 
     
     
       8. The gimbal-mounted pet dish of  claim 1 , wherein said fastening means further comprises at least one large suction cup. 
     
     
       9. The gimbal-mounted pet dish of  claim 8 , wherein said suction cup is affixed to an outside surface of said mounting frame. 
     
     
       10. The gimbal-mounted pet dish of  claim 1 , wherein said fastening means is selected from the group consisting of mechanical fasteners, adhesive tape, a hook and loop fastener, and an adhesive compound. 
     
     
       11. A gimbal-mounted pet dish, comprising:
 a mounting frame attachable to a vertical support surface with a fastening means; 
 wherein said fastening means further comprises at least one large suction cup; 
 wherein said suction cup is affixed to an outside surface of said mounting frame; 
 a horizontal member affixed to said fastening means; 
 a lower vertical member extending downward from said horizontal member; 
 wherein said lower vertical member further comprises a standoff affixed to a lower end of said horizontal member to provide a supported vertical mounting plane parallel to said vertical support surface; 
 a pet dish comprising curved side walls and a bottom defining a cavity and an inwardly facing protrusion along an upper peripheral edge to provide a containment means for contents stored therewithin; 
 a “U”-shaped mounting frame hingedly attached to said mounting frame so as to be rotatable relative to said mounting frame with a rotating bearing; 
 wherein said “U”-shaped mounting frame further comprises a rigid material having a flexing nature so as to allow distal ends to splay outward for attaching and removing said pet dish and a receiving aperture through each of said opposing distal ends for insertably engaging each of said pair of mounting pins; 
 wherein said rotating bearing supports said pet dish thereat a substantially horizontal plane; and, 
 a pair or mounting pins rotatable relative to said “U”-shaped mounting frame; 
 wherein said pair of mounting pins are provided on opposite upper external sides of said pet dish to mount said pet dish to opposing distal ends of said “U”-shaped mounting frame to maintain a substantially horizontal plane about an axis parallel to said mounting frame. 
 
     
     
       12. A method of utilizing a gimbal-mounted pet dish, comprising the steps of:
 procuring said gimbal-mounted pet dish further comprising:
 a mounting frame attachable to a vertical support surface with a fastening means; 
 a horizontal member affixed to said fastening means; 
 a lower vertical member extending downward from said horizontal member; 
 wherein said lower vertical member further comprises a standoff affixed to a lower end of said horizontal member to provide a supported vertical mounting plane parallel to said vertical support surface; 
 a pet dish comprising curved side walls and a bottom defining a cavity and an inwardly facing protrusion along an upper peripheral edge to provide a containment means for contents stored therewithin; 
 a “U”-shaped mounting frame hingedly attached to said mounting frame so as to be rotatable relative to said mounting frame with a rotating bearing; 
 wherein said “U”-shaped mounting frame further comprises a rigid material having a flexing nature so as to allow distal ends to splay outward for attaching and removing said pet dish and a receiving aperture through each of said opposing distal ends for insertably engaging each of said pair of mounting pins; and, 
 a pair or mounting pins rotatable relative to said “U”-shaped mounting frame; 
 wherein said pair of mounting pins are provided on opposite upper external sides of said pet dish to mount said pet dish to opposing distal ends of said “U”-shaped mounting frame to maintain a substantially horizontal plane about an axis parallel to said mounting frame; 
 
 fastening said pet dish to a vertical support surface at a suitable position defined by a vertical distance above a floor surface via said fastening means; 
 filling a pet dish with water or pet food in the typical manner; 
 allowing said pet dish to remain horizontal with respect to the horizon during motion of said vertical support surface; 
 removing said pet dish by pulling said “U”-shaped mounting frame outward at the location of said pair of mounting pins to release said pet dish as desired; and, 
 replacing said pet dish by reversing the above procedure thus allowing said pet dish to be reused in a repeating manner as needed. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein said fastening means further comprises at least one large suction cup affixed to an outside surface of said mounting frame. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein said step of fastening said pet dish to a vertical support surface at a suitable position defined by a vertical distance above a floor surface via said fastening means further comprises attaching at least one said suction cup to a smooth, nonporous surface via the use of suction.